1347 stars discovered as of Nov 15, 2015

News Discoveries Search Bulletin Observing Articles Classification References Tools Team

Variable stars for beginners: where to start from?

See also: Stars Easy to Observe (AAVSO)

If you're new to variable star observing, here you can find a few basic recommendations as to what are the easiest stars to start from. For your convenience we compiled a list of stars with large amplitude grouped by season. Nowadays most observations a made with CCD providing the best quality of photometric data, but visual experience still plays its role for passionate observers. Moreover, learning how to estimate light curve properties allows deeper understanding variable stars processes. To get a basic idea of which stars to look at for the first time, you may also read Sky&Telescope's article: The Top 12 Naked-Eye Variable Stars by John Isles.

Below are listed ten stars each for Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter - five binocular and five telescopic. Most stars are irregular or semi-regular Long Period Variables, but there are several interesting eclipsing variables included as well. Actually, these stars list can be originally found at British Astronomical Association's Variable Star Section webpage, where observers can find a lot of relevant information along with extensive observational programs from the BAAVSS. Here we list some stars for a quick overview. For details on variable stars types please check out the Variable Stars Classification section. Stars brighter than magnitude 8 are better observed with binoculars or a very small telescope.

First you need to identify the star. For large-amplitude variable stars from the list it's better to search for comparison stars or neighborhood layout, since the target variable star's brightness may be beyond (fainter) your device limit, thus never be found. For most of the stars listed below you don't need to observe them each night. Often it is quite enough to measure the light once a week. This is possible due to a large period of variabilty. You can find this information in the tables. Also you have to remember that visual observing of red stars are tricky: for human's eye it may be difficult to measure the light from red variables reliably. Comparison stars should be selected carefully in this case as well. De-focusing technique may be applied to the variable and comparison stars to make your magnitude estimate more precise.

Estimating magnitudes is a real challenge for beginners. The are some useful books on the subject out there. One of the most authoritative and fundamental is the AAVSO's Manual for Visual Observing of Variable Stars. This is an essential reading for everyone who wants to start variable stars observing.

CCD observers should use the AAVSO CCD Observing Manual.

Another really useful source of variable star charts is http://nhk.mirahouse.jp/chart by Mr.Hirasawa (Japan Variable Stars Study Association).

Bright variable stars by season

*  = both binocular and telescopic object
** = circumpolar object

Frequency shows how often you need to measure the light to build the light curve.

Spring

Binocular
Star	Type	Range	Period	Freq	Charts & Data
V CVn	SRa	6.5-8.6	192d	5d-7d	A  B  [dss 15']  [simbad]
AH Dra **	SRb	6.4-8.6	158d	5d-7d	A  [dss 15']  [simbad]
X Oph **	Mira	5.9-9.2*	338d	7d-10d	A  B  [dss 15']  [simbad]
Z UMa **	SRb	6.2-9.4	196d	5d-7d	A  B  [dss 15']  [simbad]
RY UMa **	SRa	6.5-7.9	310d?	7d-10d	A  [dss 15']  [simbad]
Telescopic
Star	Type	Range	Period	Freq	Charts & Data
U Boo	SRb	9.8-13.0	201d	5d-7d	A  B  [dss 15']  [simbad]
V Boo *	SRa	7.0-12.0	258d	5d-7d	A  B  [dss 15']  [simbad]
R CrB *	RCB	5.7-15.2	NA	Nightly	A  B  C  D  [dss 15']  [simbad]
V CrB *	Mira	6.9-12.6	358d	7d-10d	A  B  [dss 15']  [simbad]
X Leo	UGSS	11.1-17.2	16.9d	Nightly	A  B  C  D  E  [dss 15']  [simbad]

 

Summer

Binocular
Star	Type	Range	Period	Freq	Charts & Data
W Cyg	SRb	5.1-6.8	131d	5d	A  B  [dss 15']  [simbad]
CH Cyg *	ZAND +SR	5.6-10.1	NA	Nightly	A  B  [dss 15']  [simbad]
AC Her	RVA	6.8-9.0	75d	5d	A  [dss 15']  [simbad]
ST Her	SRb	6.8-8.3	144d	7d	A  [dss 15']  [simbad]
R Sct	RVA	4.2-8.6	146d	7d	A  B  [dss 15']  [simbad]
Telescopic
Star	Type	Range	Period	Freq	Charts & Data
chi Cyg *	Mira	3.3-14.2	408d	7d-10d	A  B  C  [dss 15']  [simbad]
SS Cyg *	UGSS	7.7-12.4	50d	Nightly	A  B  C  D  [dss 15']  [simbad]
SS Her	Mira	8.5-13.5	114d	5d-7d	A  B  C  [dss 15']  [simbad]
YY Her	ZAND	11.1-<14.0B	575?	Nightly	A  B  C  D  [dss 15']  [simbad]
V Vul	RVA	8.1-9.7	76d	5d-7d	A  B  C  [dss 15']  [simbad]

 

Autumn

Binocular
Star	Type	Range	Period	Freq	Charts & Data
U Cam **	SRb	7.7-8.8	?	5d	A  B  [dss 15']  [simbad]
SS Cep **	SRb	6.5-7.7	90d	5d	A  B  [dss 15']  [simbad]
AF Cyg	SRb	6.4-7.7	92d	5d	A  B  [dss 15']  [simbad]
Y Lyn	SRc	6.5-8.3	110d	7d	A  [dss 15']  [simbad]
Z Psc	SRb	6.4-7.5	156d	7d	A  [dss 15']  [simbad]
Telescopic
Star	Type	Range	Period	Freq	Charts & Data
Z And *	ZAND	7.7-11.3	NA	Nightly	A  B  C  [dss 15']  [simbad]
RX And	UGZ	10.3-14.8	13d	Nightly	A  B  C  [dss 15']  [simbad]
X Cam *  **	Mira	7.4-14.2	144d	5d-7d	A  [dss 15']  [simbad]
omi Cet *	Mira	2.0-10.1	332d	7d-10d	A  B  [dss 15']  [simbad]
RU Peg	UGSS	9.0-13.2	74d	Nightly	A  B  [dss 15']  [simbad]

 

Winter

Binocular
Star	Type	Range	Period	Freq	Charts & Data
X Cnc	SRb	5.7-7.0	180d	7d	A  B  C  [dss 15']  [simbad]
TX Dra **	SRb	6.6-7.9	78d?	5d	A  [dss 15']  [simbad]
RY Dra **	SRb	5.9-8.0	300d?	7d	A  B  [dss 15']  [simbad]
BU Gem	SRC	5.7-7.5	325d?	7d	A  [dss 15']  [simbad]
U Mon	RVB	5.5-7.7	91d	5d	A  B  C  D  E  [dss 15']  [simbad]
Telescopic
Star	Type	Range	Period	Freq	Charts & Data
T Cas *	Mira	6.9-13.0	445d	10d-14d	A  B  [dss 15']  [simbad]
U Gem	UGSS+E	8.2-14.9	105d	Nightly	A  B  [dss 15']  [simbad]
U Ori *	Mira	4.8-13.0	377d	10d	A  B  [dss 15']  [simbad]
AX Per *	ZAND+E	8.0-13.0	680	Nightly	A  [dss 15']  [simbad]
RV Tau	RVB	8.9-11.1	79d	5d	A  [dss 15']  [simbad]

 

Bright Eclipsing Variables

Star	Type	Max	Min II	Min I	Period	Charts & Data
Algol	EA	2.1	2.2	3.4	2.87d	A  [dss 15']  [simbad]
RZ Cas **	EA	6.2	6.3	7.7	1.2d	A  B  [dss 15']  [simbad]
U Cep **	EA	6.8	6.9	9.3	2.49d	A  [dss 15']  [simbad]
beta Lyr	EB	3.3	3.9	4.4	12.91d	A  [dss 15']  [simbad]
W UMa	EW	7.8	8.4	8.5	0.33d	A  [dss 15']  [simbad]

 

For more historical information and properties of variable stars please see also
AAVSO: Variable Star of the Season Archive.

More charts can be found at AFOEV - Charts and BAAVSS Charts webpages.

Related Articles:

---

• Classification of Variable Stars: Pulsating variables
• Classification of Variable Stars: Cataclysmic variables
• Classification of Variable Stars: Eclipsing variables
• Classification of Variable Stars: Rotating variables

Project VS-COMPAS © 2011-2014

Hosted by: hoster.by